Specifically in the corporate vision statement section of the document Microsoft writes:

“Our strategic vision is to compete and grow by building best-in-class platforms and productivity services for an intelligent cloud and an intelligent edge infused with AI.”

Previously this stated:

“Our strategic vision is to compete and grow as a productivity and platform company for the mobile-first and cloud-first world.”

Microsoft is clearly in love with AI, with six references to AI, up from zero in the previous annual report, and AI specifically replacing mobile in the statement. Microsoft has also established a formal AI and Research group which “focuses on our AI development and other forward-looking research and development efforts spanning infrastructure, services, applications and search,” the annual report says and has been infusing AI systems into many of their software offerings.

Microsoft however already faces fierce competition from the likes of Google and Facebook in this arena, and it remains to be seen whether Microsoft will be more successful with bots than phones.

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